The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy will remain vulnerable unless all stakeholders urgently build consensus around credible elections, technological transparency and political accountability.
Amupitan gave the warning while delivering remarks at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room’s National Stakeholders’ Forum on Elections in Abuja on Thursday.
He said the survival of the country’s democratic system depends on collective commitment to credible electoral processes rather than the efforts of the Commission alone.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is threatened by the “corrosive effects of misinformation, electoral malpractice, vote-buying and violence,” stressing that securing the democratic space requires a proactive, multi-sectoral approach.
“Credible elections are the undisputed foundation of democracy. Legitimacy flows from the process, and when citizens believe their votes count, they are empowered to hold their leaders accountable,” he noted.
He asserted that consensus among political parties, civil society, security agencies, the media and the Commission is key to restoring public trust.
“Consensus yields credible elections, credible elections yield accountable governance, and accountable governance secures democracy,” he said.
While highlighting the Commission’s reforms, the INEC Chairman said the deployment of technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the INEC Result Viewing, IReV, portal, has significantly strengthened electoral integrity.
He added that while BVAS has “closed the door on over-voting,” the IReV portal has “opened the process to the world,” setting a new standard for transparency.
However, he admitted that telecommunications infrastructure remains a major obstacle, especially in remote areas. With 176,000 polling units nationwide, real-time result uploads are still challenged by weak networks.
He said INEC is in active discussions with the Nigerian Communications Commission and service providers to deepen connectivity and explore alternative technologies.
Amupitan also raised alarm over persistent voter apathy, citing the 27 per cent turnout in the 2023 general elections, and warning that low participation undermines legitimacy.
He pointed to the recent Anambra election, where PVC collection rose from 63.9 per cent to 98.8 per cent after targeted mobilisation, as evidence that strategic engagement can deliver exceptional results.
He urged civil society and the media to intensify sensitisation ahead of future polls.
Providing an update on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, the INEC Chairman revealed that 2,685,725 registrations have been completed so far.
He said Osun leads with over 208,000 registered voters, followed by Kano, Sokoto, Imo, Borno and Lagos.
He called on stakeholders to sustain mobilisation until the exercise is concluded.
On preparations for the February 21, 2026 FCT Area Council elections, Amupitan said all vital information has been published on INEC’s website, adding that discussions on logistics and security will intensify in the coming weeks.
He further emphasised that technological reforms must be matched by strict political accountability.
To curb vote-buying, he said INEC is deepening cooperation with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, to deploy intelligence-driven operations at polling centres.
“The fight against inducement, intimidation and electoral fraud requires collective resolve. Civil society must continue to hold all actors, including political parties, accountable,” he added.
Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to building a “transparent, resilient and inclusive” electoral process, Amupitan said the Commission will continue simplifying its interfaces, strengthening digital infrastructure and improving voter access while protecting the sanctity of the vote.
Quoting Simon Sinek, he concluded: “Leadership is not about the next election; it is about the next generation.”
He commended the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room for sustaining an important national platform for democratic dialogue and pledged that INEC will remain steadfast in delivering elections Nigerians can trust.
